Dad Charged With Second-Degree Murder For Killing Guy Who Followed His Daughter Into Bathroom

By: Mackenzie Wright | August 16, 2018

When his teen daughter told him that a man had tried to break into her bathroom stall, the angry father confronted the man and attacked him. The angry dad beat the man to death, then fled the scene. He has since been arrested and charged with murder. His family argues that he was just defending his daughter.

Melvin Harris III has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder in the death of Leon Leevon Armstrong. The Arizona dad was arrested earlier this month after he was identified as the father who kicked and beat Armstrong to death.

The 40-year-old father was at a QuikTrip convenience store with his 16-year-old daughter and her two friends. Armstrong approached Harris and asked for money, and Harris gave him some pocket changed. Armstrong then went into the store.

Harris' daughter was in the store at the time. She came out and reported to her father that a man followed her into the bathroom and tried to enter her stall. He shook the door violently, she told her father, but then went away. The girl told the store employees and security guard.

The father and daughter then saw Armstrong walk out of the store. The teen told her father that he was the man in the bathroom with her. Harris did not feel the store handled the situation well and approached the security guard. He told the guard to 'take care of the situation' or threatened that he would do it himself.

The guard told the angry father that the situation was being handled, but Harris turned to confront Armstrong. He then attacked Armstrong, according to witnesses. Harris stomped on the man, punching and kicking him senseless. He then fled the scene.

Armstrong was rushed to the hospital and treated for serious injuries, including a nasal fracture, loss of oxygen and brain swelling. He died later that day of his injuries.

Police showed up at Harris' home and arrested him. He admitted he fought Armstrong but says he didn't throw the first punch. He also says he did not continue to hit Armstrong as the man fell to the ground. He was taken into custody.

Diana Jackson, Harris' fiancé, is standing by her man. "I'm not mad at him. I don't feel like he did anything wrong. I love him. He did what he was supposed to do for our kid. You cannot tell someone they're wrong for protecting their children," Jackson said to AZFamily. "I would have done the same thing. I don't feel bad at all for his actions. I feel bad that the man ended up dying in the process. I do.”

Many people on social media have praised the protective father for taking action. Armstrong did have a lengthy record of petty crimes, and people say Harris did society a favor by getting such a man off the streets.

Attorneys may find the case a little tricky. The child was not in danger and authorities had already been alerted. It could be argued that this was not a case of protection, but revenge. The girl was ultimately unharmed and out of harm's way by the time the father approached the man she accused of harassing her, so her father, in his anger, may have crossed the line.